Afrocuba – Eclecticism
The Cuban band Afrocuba was formed in 1978, and began by playing music based on the sounds of Cuban folklore, but later evolved toward a more universal kind of contemporary music. Their name is possibly a bit misleading to people outside Cuba, but they have retained it because of the popularity of their music and the fact that to them it does illustrate their original fusing of Cuban and Afro jazz styles.
Just after their formation they won the 1978 UNEAC prize for popular music and made their professional debut at the eleventh World Festival of Youth and Students in their native Cuba. They had studied at the Havana Conservatoire of Music as all professional Cuban musicians do, where their influences were the musicians of the American West Coast jazz fusion style rather than the hardbop or mainstream jazzmen who's style many other Cuban musicians assimilated. The band first came to the attention of Ronnie Scott's when Ronnie himself made his first visit to Cuba in 1982. He was very impressed by the local musicians he heard, and the seeds were then sown for the visits to the London club of many Cuban bands, a situation which continues to this day.
Afrocuba were the first of these Cuban visitors in 1982, and they have returned to the club in 1987, '89 and 1994, and plan to return in '95. The bands personnel has evolved during this period, but their music still retains their earlier mellow West Coast School influences. This album was recorded in Cuba and combines two different recordings made in 1987 and '94. The '87 titles were released on LP 'Eclipse De Sol' (JHR 004) on the original Jazz House label, and are included on this album along with the bands latest sessions recorded in Havana in early 1994. Afrocuba has its own identifiable sound, which has proved to be very popular with the audience at Ronnie Scott's on each of their visits. It has been described as 'A different and original sound' that has developed by the musicians 'selecting from various ideas or sources' (eclectic - Collins English Dictionary) either consciously or subconsciously during their musical lives, and transforming these ideas into their own style.
They have made three soundtrack recordings for Cuban films, as well as having toured the world playing clubs and Festivals with an ever growing reputation. They are very good ambassadors for Cuba and for music. (Derek Everett )
Personnel:
Tracks 1 – 8:
Roberto Garcia Lopez (Musical Director, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Keyboards), Mario Luis Pino (Mayito) (Congas, Bata Drums, Vocals), Leonardo Garcia Lopez (Drums, Percussion), David Suarez Merlin (Saxophones ), Jose Ernesto Hermida (Bass Guitar, Chorus), Norberto Rodriguez (Guitar, Chorus), Fermin Sifonte Castillo (Piano, Keyboards).
Tracks 9 – 11
Oriente Lopez (Keyboards, Flute), Roberto Garcia Lopez (Trumpet), Edino Montero (Trumpet, Valve Trombone), Fernando Acosta (Tenor and Soprano Saxophone), Fernando Calveiro (Guitar), Omar Hernandez (Bass), Ernan Lopez-Nussa (Piano), Oscar Valdes (Drums), Mario Luis Pino (Mayito) (Percussion).

Tracks 1 – 8 recorded between January and March 1994 in Havana, Cuba.
Tracks 9 – 11 recorded June 1987, in the Studios of EGREM Cuba.